Gianni Infantino (foto: Getty Images)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino expects Donald Trump to join him in presenting the World Cup trophy after the final and has again praised the tournament's expansion.
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made no secret of his close relationship with US President Donald Trump, revealing that he hopes the two of them will present the World Cup trophy together after the 2026 final.
"Yes, I hope that we will present the trophy together in the final. It has always been the plan, and it has been done in the past, that the president of the country hosting the final presents the trophy together with the president of FIFA," Infantino said.
The FIFA chief added that he remains in regular contact with Trump and even makes sure the US president follows the tournament on television.
"We speak regularly," Infantino said, adding that he ensures Trump watches the World Cup matches.
Infantino also described the expanded 48-team tournament as a major success, arguing that the quality of football has justified FIFA's decision to increase the number of participating nations.
"With 48 teams, it was a huge success. Every team played at a high level. Teams from all continents scored goals and won at least one point. Nine out of ten African teams qualified for the knockout rounds. At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. This shows how important it is to include all teams and give them the opportunity to participate," he said.
The FIFA president also welcomed discussions about expanding the tournament even further, with a 64-team World Cup now under consideration.
"This is certainly an issue that the relevant committees will examine and discuss after this World Cup. A World Cup must be organised for the whole world, not only for Europe and South America. Every nation should be able to dream of playing at a World Cup. The quality of national teams continues to improve everywhere. If smaller countries are not given the opportunity to participate, they lose an important incentive to develop further," Infantino explained.
If Trump joins Infantino on the podium after the final, it would be one of the most politically symbolic moments of the tournament, reflecting the close relationship between FIFA's president and the leader of one of the three host nations.